Interpol says a major operation targeting illegal gold mining in West Africa has resulted in 200 arrests and the seizure of harmful chemicals, explosives and drugs.

Interpol, which coordinated the West African police operation dubbed “Sanu, " announced the move on Tuesday.

A total of 118 illegal miners, including 36 dead, have been extracted from an abandoned gold mine in South Africa. The operation has led to arrests for illegal mining and trespassing.

An operation to rescue stranded illegal gold miners in South Africa's North West province has begun, following a months-long standoff. Bloomberg's S'thembile Cele speaks to Jennifer Zabasajja about the rescue effort.

South African rescuers have pulled out 36 dead bodies and 82 survivors from a gold mine deep underground in two days of operations, police said on Tuesday, adding that the survivors would all face illegal mining and immigration charges.